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While watching Mad Men I saw a preview for a new AMC show called, The Pitch. I was immediately excited as I am a lover of reality TV and this is reality tv in the advertising world. Thought it was amazing to be able to go inside these offices and see those who work in advertising. I do understand completely that it is not a 100% true portrayal of the process. Cutting down the 100 hours of work that goes into a pitch down to 40 minutes, or whatever, isn’t going to give much insight. I watched the first preview and I found myself most interested in the brainstorming sessions. I’m still thinking about the differences between the process of copywriters vs. the process of designers. It seemed to me that when designers get together on a project the conversation is a bit different, but I will have to think about that some more. Maybe it’s just more visual, collage boards, photography, illustrations.

I’m sure this show will get a lot of negative reviews. No one like the manipulation of advertising and most of the time coming up with creative ideas seems ridiculous at times and not so creative at all. The process is ALWAYS different. You can take inspiration from other sources and media, or you can get some guy off YouTube. I can imagine that most people in the business are both really happy and really stressed at their job. It’s like that art project the you worked on for 100+ hours, you’re ready to destroy it at times, it stresses you out but when you finally get it done you have something you love and can be proud of. I don’t think creatives expect others to get it really. So with that I say this show isn’t for everyone, but I’ll be watching.

Premieres April 30.

My last blog post was a result of missing out on some fun 4th of July events last weekend. I was upset that I could not enjoy going out for the day like those around me did.

Looking back on that post I starting thinking about my job applications and the fact that potential employers may be reading these posts and think poorly of me. With social media I share so much of my life, but I understand that the negativity should be kept to a minimum. Nobody will hire someone with a negative attitude. Still it’s not about being negative, it’s about being human. Having good days and having bad days. I have a motto of sorts, “Stay optimistic.” Positive thinking is good for anyone, but it’s especially good for me. You see I don’t wish to publish those type of posts to be negative, but rather to slowly gain the courage to say out loud that I have a condition that I’m tired of hiding. It effects my life immensely, but it’s mortifying for me to share with those around me. I’m thinking maybe if I write about my life online, it will help my life offline; help me figure myself out. The problem lies in the idea of creating a quality online identity for work.

As a designer you create an identity online. An image that integrates your design talent and your personal identity. While following a lot of designers on different sites I have seen a transformation in some, which begins with them sharing who they really are and expressing that self-discovery through their work. In my opinion, I’m not sure if it’s true for design but in art, self expression brings out the most honorable and respectable work in an artist. It’s deep and honest.

In my case it is difficult when your identity has nothing to do with being a ninja or a rockstar. I follow many designers and developers and that’s what they say they are. A super ninja, an awesome rockstar, a unceasingly loving spouse, a super happy parent, an always super motivated, never say anything that might make me sound defective, happy person!

I guess I’m much more interested in knowing who people really are and how I can relate to them just being human.

So in this world of sharing just about everything about yourself online, when is “just trying to figure myself out,” just too much information?

It’s 4th of July weekend! A three day weekend full of BBQ’s, friends at the beach, adventure, baseball games and enjoying time with others. Sounds like an awesome time to be young and reckless just like me! Oh right except that I’m young and reckless with a chronic condition that completely strips me of my youth and dignity. Right.

When I was a kid I never thought about what adulthood would be like. Of course I had to think about it for the countless number of school presentations on, “What I want to be when I grow up.” I never really took them seriously, because I was too busy being a kid! Getting dirty and getting in trouble. I had the time of my life! At this point, I think it will always be the time of my life. The time when I was truly happy. A kid.

Then comes adulthood along with a chronic condition that changes everything.

You can only hope that happy kid still lives inside you somewhere. But now, you are your condition. It’s now, and will always be, your identity. It changes everything and for me it changed the way I live my entire life. I can’t, or mainly won’t, do what I once could do without any fear or apprehension. And let me tell you when you are not able to do what you used to do, it makes people who have known you a long time really frustrated.

You wouldn’t know just by looking at me, which I’m not really even sure if that’s a good or bad thing. People do not understand what they can’t see.

So if your reading this, my perfectly healthy friend, I guess the lesson is you are healthy and your identity is built around what you are able to do and how your body helps you do it. So take care of yourself and go have an amazing time this weekend. For the both of us.

HBO’s True Blood is almost here! Season four will premiere Sunday, June 26th. If you are a fan of the show I’m sure you are as excited as I am. Before last season I read the novel that the season is loosely based on. Dead To The World, is the fourth book in the series and so far Season 4 looks like it will include witches taking over and Eric’s memory erased, just like the book. Witches, were-panthers and fairies, this season is going to have some serious action! I’m not sure how I’m going to like this sweet and romantic Eric, he’s a confident, tough, broad shouldered, bad ass viking and that’s how I like him. As always I’m sure the ending of each episode will leave me excited to see the next.

#waitingsucks no more starting June 26th! I have put my Photoshop skills to good use by replacing my face with Sookie’s on the season 4 poster on the right. Hey a girl can dream. :)

Check out this sneak peak.

True Blood: Season 4 – Six Minute Sneak Peek (HBO)

Watch Sunday Truebies.

I first became a Lady Gaga fan after I watched her Bad Romance video on YouTube. That video rocks and I played it over and over again. However I never listened to any of her other songs… that was until her Born This Way single came out.

I love my music like I love my art, personal and honest; insecurities on full display. An artist’s honesty and discloser of personal struggles in their work is something I admire so much. If it’s personal to you it means so much more.

I think Born This Way just has a good “kick ass and dance!” message for anyone out there that wishes a part of them were different. This song made me want to check out the rest of Gaga’s songs. Her music is just super catchy and good dance club music (I know nothing of dance clubs, but a good assumption). I was really interested in the album Born This Way because, like its first single, I thought it would have more of Gaga‘s writing, to share and empower others, and less record producers selling product.

I was especially excited that it included a track called “Bad Kids,” mainly because “Bad Kids” by Black Lips is one of my favorite songs. “We only do these things because all we are is bad kids!” Would definitely blast that tune in the car while driving way too fast. Gaga’s version is pretty similar in terms of surviving life as a bad kid, with a dance beat of course. Love that she says, “Don’t be insecure if your heart is pure.”

I highly recommend putting your headphones on with the volume up and listening to Government Hooker. It has a sick beat. At first I thought this song would be political, but other than a reference to JFK, nothing political here.

Americano is the other song I will be listening to on the IPod for sure. Gaga is speaking all kinds of lenguages on this album. “Mi corazón. Me duele por mi generación.“ Her accent is pretty funny too, but it’s awesome that she did some lyrics en español.

So overall my favorite songs from the album are, Born This Way, Bad Kids, Judas and Americano.

Lastly I just want to say what is up with this album art? The motorcycle thing is a cool idea, but I don’t like the negative space it creates. The image and font just don’t go with the album, maybe the Judas single, but the album? No.

Later Bad Kids.